The Six Fasts of Shawwal

The Month of Shawwal begins with one of the most auspicious days - Eid ul Fitr. Eid ul Fitr is a day of great ibaadah and a day of immense happiness.

The month of Shawwal is further enhanced by the six fasts which can be kept within it.

Nabi (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) reports that: “Whoever completes the fasts of Ramadan and then follows it with the six fasts of Shawwal, it will carry the thawaab (reward) of fasting for the whole year.” (Muslim)

Scholars have commented on the six fasts stating that every good deed is multiplied by ten, therefore the reward of 30 days of Ramadan amounts to the reward of 300 days of fasting.

The six fasts of Shawwal amounts to the rewards of 60 more days, hence raising the aggregate reward to 360 - a whole year’s reward of fasting!

SOME POINTS:* The fasts are mustahab (recommended)* They may be kept consecutively or randomly* They must be completed before the end of Shawwal